# Cyberattacks Spoil Retail Inventory by Manipulating Thermostats > Hackers manipulate supermarket refrigerators to spoil food, causing millions in losses. - Title: Cyberattacks Spoil Retail Inventory by Manipulating… - Summary: Hackers manipulate supermarket refrigerators to spoil food, causing millions in losses. Hackers remotely altered refrigeration systems in European… - Keywords: cybersecurity, retail, supermarket, thermostat, hacking, inventory, losses, fraud, business, finance, Cyberattacks, Spoil - Source: Pymnts — https://pymnts.com/cybersecurity/2026/cyber-risks-turn-physical-when-hackers-control-retail-thermostat - Author: PYMNTS - Published: 2026-10-13T15:32:43+00:00 - Read time: 1 min - Topics: cybersecurity, retail, supermarket, thermostat, hacking, inventory, losses, fraud, business, finance ## Hackers target European supermarkets An unidentified hacking group manipulated refrigeration systems at French supermarket chains including Intermarché, Carrefour, Coopérative U and Monoprix. > An unidentified hacking group, or several of them, wrought havoc across hundreds of european supermarkets this week ## Temperature control access compromised Attackers remotely pushed temperatures as high as 122 degrees fahrenheit, extending defrost cycles from one hour to eight hours. > In an overnight cyberattack spanning sunday (oct. 11) and monday (oct. 12), attackers remotely manipulated refrigeration systems at french supermarket chains including intermarché, carrefour, coopérative u and monoprix, pushing temperatures as high as 122 degrees fahrenheit ## Spoiled inventory and equipment damage Spoiled inventory, disrupted operations, damaged equipment and reports of fires caused tens of millions of euros in losses. > The result was spoiled inventory, disrupted operations, damaged equipment and reports of fires, with intermarché ceo thierry cotillard estimating that the unprecedented attack could generate tens of millions of euros in losses ## Attack follows military commissary incident The attack followed a similar incident over the summer involving refrigeration systems at military commissaries. > The attack followed an incident over the summer in the united states that involved refrigeration systems at military commissaries ## Connected infrastructure creates financial risk Spoiled inventory, equipment damage and business interruptions turn connected infrastructure into a financial liability. > Spoiled inventory, equipment damage and business interruptions are turning connected infrastructure into a financial liability that companies must price, insure and protect ## Vulnerable refrigeration controllers Attackers exploited vulnerable refrigeration controllers supplied by third-party manufacturers. > Rather than disabling payment systems or encrypting corporate databases, attackers exploited vulnerable refrigeration controllers supplied by third-party manufacturers ## Retailers face unique recovery challenges For retailers on thin margins, spoiled food cannot be recovered through backups once temperature thresholds are exceeded. > For retailers operating on thin margins, refrigerated inventory represents a particularly vulnerable asset. Unlike stolen information, spoiled food cannot be recovered through backups ## Shared technology creates cascading risks Supermarket chains share overlapping networks of equipment manufacturers, software vendors and maintenance contractors. > The supermarket chains compete on pricing, distribution and customer experience, yet many depend on overlapping networks of equipment manufacturers, software vendors and maintenance contractors ## Key takeaway Hackers remotely altered refrigeration systems in European supermarkets, spoiling inventory and causing tens of millions in losses.